[pct-l] Newbie seeking advice, partners!

[CMountainDave@xxxxxxx (CMountainDave@xxxxxxx)]

In a message dated 1/27/03 12:48:14 PM, andrewas@whitman.edu writes:

<< Is late May/ early June a realistic starting
date considering my start point (W.P. WA) and the weather profile this
year (low % of avg  snowfall)? >>

Even this year you are almost certain to run into snow going thru Goat Rocks
even in July. Normal meltout is in  early August above say 6000' in this
area. About a ten mile stretch where it could be easy to get disoriented in a
fog because hardly anybody will have been there before June 10  to make steps

   Mt Adams will probably be still 100% covered until late May, another 10
mile stretch much easier than Goat Rocks.  Normally melting out is the













              middle of June. At trail elevation, that is. Keep checking with
the forest ranger in Randall Wa. to see when road 25? opens between Randall
and Trout Lake. That will give you a good idea what the snow pack is. It
normally opens in the first half of June. This year? Who knows until the
April 1 or April 15 snow depths come in to make a reliable estimate. Looking
good for a 2 week early melt out so far, at least below 6000'
Avalanche conditions should be low by mid May, the layers having been
consolidated by percolating melt off by then